Fauquier at James Wood

When: Tonight, 7

Where: James Wood’s Jerry L. Kelican Stadium, Winchester

Records: Fauquier (6-2); James Wood (1-7)

Last week: Fauquier beat Kettle Run 17-10; James Wood lost to Millbrook 42-7

Last year: James Wood won 38-23

Preview: The Colonels and the Falcons are trending in opposite directions heading into tonight’s matchup.

While Fauquier is coming off a thrilling 17-10 win over rival Kettle Run in overtime and is all but assured of a playoff berth, the Colonels are riding a 7-game losing streak and haven’t won a game since their season opener against Heritage back on Aug. 24.

But while a postseason appearance is probably no longer a possibility for James Wood, Mike Bolin’s squad has no plans to roll over against the visiting Falcons.

“We’re just trying to prepare ourselves the best we can for this week’s game,” Bolin said. That won’t be an easy task against a Fauquier side led by three-year varsity starting quarerback Colin Diehl.

Diehl was 16 for 25 for 136 yards in the Falcons’ win last week and has proven he is a threat with both his legs and his arm with performances like the one he had against Handley earlier this season when he passed for 203 yards and rushed for 70 yards while accounting for five touchdowns.

“He’s a dual-threat kind of guy and that’s the toughest thing to prepare for as a defense,” Bolin said. “He’s really good and he’s very experienced.

“They’ve got some pretty athletic players and they’re fundamentally sound. They like to spread you out and pass it quite a bit.”

While Diehl and the offense can be explosive, the Fauquier defense is no slouch either.

Linebacker captains Hunter Ball and Louis Heisler and defensive ends Donovan Porter and Ryan McRae have helped the Falcons give up just 12.5 points per game and Bolin said the Colonels have to find a way to move the ball consistently.

“They switch their look a lot depending on the front and what formation you’re in and they have some pretty physical players,” Bolin said.

Bolin said quarterback Cam Butler, who left last week’s loss to Millbrook midway through the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury, was getting better but would not comment on whether he would start for James Wood.

The Colonels managed just 34 yards rushing on 34 attempts against the Pioneers, a stat that must change if they’re to have success against Fauquier.

“We know that we’ve got to control the line of scrimmage and force some turnovers,” Bolin said.